Stage set well packers



Oct. 3, 1967 J. R. CLAYCOMB 3,344,861

STAGE SET WELL PACKERS Filed May 13, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet l Liz-r6. Fig, 2a, .flfio 216. 10

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1957 J. R. CLAYCOMB 3,344,861

STAGE SET WELL PACKERS Filed May 13, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 zixwsa/v R. apycows fNl/E/VTGE Oct. 3, 1967 .1. R. CLAYCOMB STAGE SET WELL PACKERS Oct. 3, 1967 Filed May 13, 1965 Ia. 5a.

J. R. CLAYCOMB STAGE SET WELL PACKERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jqczso/v P. Chm coals f /v VEA/ Toe firroPA/Ex United States Patent 3,344,861 STAGE SET WELL PACKERS Jackson R. Claycomb, Monroeville, Pa., assignor to Baker Oil Tool, Inc., City of Commerce, Calif., a corporation of California Filed May 13, 1965, Ser. No. 455,568 14 Claims. (Cl. 166-120) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A subsurface well packer having a body, slips and expanders for anchoring the body in a Well casing, and a packing structure for sealing against the well casing, the slips first being expanded and anchored against the casing without transmitting the anchoring force through the packing structure, after which a hydraulically actuated device expands the packing structure against the well casing.

The present invention relates to subsurface well bore apparatus, and more particularly to well packers adapted to be anchored in packed-off condition in well bores.

Well packers are anchored in packed-oi? condition in well casing, and similar conduit strings, disposed in well bores. They may be used for well production purposes, in which event it may be desired to circulate drilling mud, or the like, from the casing by circulating fluid through a tubing string to which the packer is secured and through the annulus surrounding the tubing string. Heretofore, circulation has been accomplished preparatory to setting the packer in the casing with the top of the well bore in an open condition, which might permit the well to begin flowing out of control. Packers have been proposed that can be set after connections have been made at the top of the well bore, permitting fluid circulation to take place with the well under control. However, the location in which the packer is actually subsequently anchored to the well casing may be diflierent from that desired. Other packers have been anchored to the well casing, the surface connections then made, and the packers then packed or sealed off against the casing, but they require movement of the tubing string in securing the packed-olf condition. In the present invention, movement of the tubing string to secure .the packed-off condition of the well packer against the casing is unnecessary. The well packer is adapted to be lowered in a well bore and anchored therein at a desired setting location without effecting its pack-oil or scaling in the well bore, to enable fluid to be circulated around the anchored packer, after which its packing-off or sealing in the well bore can be accomplished hydraulically.

' This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of a form in which it may be embodied. This form is shown in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. It will now be described in detail, for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that such detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a well packer embodying the apparatus in conjunction with a setting tool and wire line for lowering and partially setting the packer in a well bore;

FIGS. 2a and 2b together constitute a longitudinal section through the well packer apparatus in condition for lowering in a well casing, or similar well conduit, FIG. 2b being the lower continuation of FIG. 2a;

FIGS. 3a and 3b are views corresponding to FIGS. 2a and 2b, disclosing the well packer anchored in the Well casing but prior to being packed-off or sealed therewithin, FIG. 3b being a lower continuation of FIG. 3a;

FIGS. 4a and 4b are views similar to FIGS. 3a and 3b, but with a tubing string associated with the anchored packer apparatus, FIG. 4b being a lower continuation of FIG. 4a;

FIGS. 5a and 5b are views corresponding to FIGS. 4a and 4b with the well packer anchored in packed-0E condition in the well casing, FIG. 511 being a lower continuation of FIG. 5a.

As disclosed in the drawings, a well packer A is to be lowered in a well casing B and anchored in a predetermined location therewithin without being sealed or packed-off against the wall of the well casing, which will enable fluids to be circulated down through a tubular string C (FIGS. 4a, 4b) and from the packer, the fluid then passing upwardly around the packer and back through the tubing-casing annulus E to the top of the well bore. Circulation of fluids can take place under controlled conditions after the well packer has been anchored in the well casing, but before being packed-off therewith in. The surface connections (not shown) at the top of the well bore to the tubing string and the well casing are completed, so that the well bore fluids can be displaced under controlled conditions, insuring against blowouts, and the like. After the well bore has been conditioned by circulating fluid through the tubing string, well packer, and upwardly through the tubing-casing annulus, the packer A can be sealed ofl' against the well casing without disturbing the surface connections or moving the tubing string C, the full setting of the well packer in anchored and packed-off condition in the Well casing being completed. The apparatus in the well casing is then in a condition to receive flow from a producing zone (not shown) which will flow upwardly through the well packer A and the tubing string C to the top of the hole.

As disclosed in the drawings, the well packer A includes a main tubular body 10, having a central passage ll'therethrough, which terminates in an upper head 12 having a threaded box 13, the threads preferably being left-hand. Slidable in a relative downward direction along the body immediately below its head 12 is an upper expander 14 that has a thrust sleeve 15 integral therewith extending upwardly therefrom along and beyond the upper head. Initially, the thrust sleeve 15 is releasably secured to the head by one or more shear pins or screws 16. This upper expander has an external tapered surface 17 inclined in a downward and inward direction adapted to coact with a companion internal tapered surface 18 on an upper slip sleeve 19 which has circumferentially spaced longitudinal slots 20 therein to provide weakened sections 21 enabling the sleeve 19 to break into slip segments upon downward movement or wedging of the upper expander therewithin, the segmented slips being shiftable outwardly into engagement with the wall of the well casing B. The periphery of the slip sleeve has a plurality of downwardly facing teeth or wickers 22 so that the engagement of the upper slip sleeve segments with the casing will anchor the well packer against downward movement in the latter.

The upper expander 14 is shiftable in a downward direction only along the body 10 of the tool, its relative upward direction with respect to the body being prevented by a one-way latch or lock device 23 of any suitable type. As disclosed, the lock device includes a split lock ring or sleeve 24 having internal upwardly facing ratchet teeth 25 adapted to mesh with downwardly facing external ratchet body 10. The sleeve has external cam teeth 27 adapted to coact with internal cam teeth 28 in the upper expander 14. Actually, the split sleeve 24 can expand outwardly, when the upper expander 14 is shifted downwardly along the body 10, to such an extent as to bring its internal ratchet teeth 25 out of engagement with the external ratchet teeth 26. However, any tendency for the expander to move upwardly of the body will cause the cam teeth 27, 28 to force and hold the sleeve ratchet teeth inwardly in full mesh with the body ratchet teeth and prevent such upward movement. The specific details of the latching arrangement 23 need not be given in this specification since they are illustrated and described fully in United States Patent 2,647,5 84.

V A lower slip sleeve 29 is disposed below the upper slip sleeve 19, the two sleeves being separated by an intervening spacer ring 30. This lower slip sleeve 29 is movable relative to the body 10 and has longitudinally spaced slots or grooves 31 to provide weakened regions 32 at which it i 'will break into slip segments as a result of a lower expander 33 mounted on the body being shifted relatively upwardly within the lower slip sleeve. The lower sleeve 29 has an inner expander surface 34 tapering in an upward and inward direction and coacting with a companion external tapered surface 35 on the lower expander, the slip sleeve having upwardly facing wickers or teeth 36 adapted to be embedded in the wall of the well casing B for the purpose of anchoring the well packer A against upward movement within the latter.

The lower expander 33 is fixed to the tubular body 10,

' being prevented from moving upwardly along the body by an upper split retaining ring 37 received in a peripheral groove 38 in the body and bearing against an upwardly facing expander shoulder 39. Its downward movement with respect to the body is prevented by its engagement with a lower split ring 40 mounted in an end recess 41 in the expander and having internal downwardly facing ratchet teeth 42 engaging upwardly facing ratchet teeth 43 provided on the body along an extended length. In assembling the packer, the lower expander 33 is moved upwardly along the body 10 until it snugly engages the upper retainer ring 37, after which the lower split retaining ring 40 can be shifted upwardly snugly against the expander '33, its ratchet teeth 42 engaging the body ratchet teeth 43 to prevent downward movement of the lower expander along the body. Preferably, the lower retainer ring 40 is substantially flush with the lower end of the lower expander 33.

Surrounding the packer body is a packing sleeve 44, or corresponding packing structure, which is made of pliant, elastic material, such as natural or synthetic rubber. This packing sleeve is initially in a retracted condition on the body 1 0, with its upper end engaging the lower end of the expander 33, which serves as an upper abutment, and its lower end engaging a lower abutment 45 adapted to shift upwardly along the body 10 and toward the lower expander or abutment 33 for the purpose of shortening the packing sleeve and expanding it outwardly against the wall of the well casing B. The lower abutment 45 constitutes the upper end of an annular piston 46 including a lower piston head 47 and a piston skirt 48 extending upw ardly therefrom, the head and skirt being slidable within an annular cylinder 49 formed between the periphery of the body 10 and a cylinder skirt 50, the lower end of which is threadedly secured to a lower body abutment 51, the upper end of which forms a cylinder head 52. The upper end of the cylinder skirt 50 contacts an outer portion of the lower abutment 45, the annular piston 46 being initially releasably secured to the cylinder skirt by one or more shear screws 53.

The piston 46 is shiftable upwardly in the cylinder 50 to shorten the packing sleeve 44 and expand it outwardly against the well casing B by fluid under pressure passing from the interior 11 of the packer body through side ports 54 into an annular cylinder space 55 between the piston and cylinder head 47, 52. Leakage of fluid from the annular cylinder along the annular piston is prevented by an inner piston side seal 56 slidably and sealingly engaging the periphery of the body 10, and by an outer s1de seal 57 slidably and sealingly engaging the inner wall of the cylinder sleeve. Fluid on the low pressure side of the piston head 47 is prevented from being trapped by bleeder ports 58 in the upper portion of the piston skirt 48 and bleeder ports 59 in the upper portion of the cylinder sleeve 50. Leakage of fluid in a downward direction from the cylinder space 55 is prevented by a seal ring 60 on the cylinder head engaging the inner wall of the cylinder sleeve 50 and by an inner seal ring 61 on the cylinder head or abutment 51 engaging the periphery of the body below its ports 54. l

The piston 46 is movable upwardly along the body 10 for the purpose of expanding the packing sleeve 44, but its return movement is prevented by a one-way lock 'or latch device 23a similar to the one-way lock or latch device 23 between the upper expander 14 and body. The lower oneway lock device may also be of the type shown and described in United States Patent 2,647,584, consisting of a split sleeve 65 having internal downwardly facing ratchet teeth 66 adapted to mesh with the upwardly facing ratchet teeth 43 on the body. The latch sleeve also has external cam teeth 67 engageable with internal cam teeth 68 in the lower abutment 45. Here again, there is sufficient lateral movement capability of the sleeve 65 with respect to the body 10 and lower abutment 45 as to permit the sleeve to expand outwardly upon upward shifting of the lower abutment 45 and piston 46 along the body so that the internal ratchet teeth 66 can ratchet freely upwardly along the external body ratchet teeth 43. However, any tendency for the abutment 45 and piston 46 to shift downwardly along the body will cause the cam teeth 67, 68 to coengage and force and hold the sleeve ratchet teeth 66 fully meshed with the body ratchet teeth 43.

The well packer apparatus A may be lowered in the well casing B by being releasably connected to a setting tool F, to which a wire line H is secured, the wire line extending to the top of the well bore. A specific setting tool F that may be used for expanding both sets of slips 19, 29 against the wall of the well casing, to anchor the well packer thcrewithin against upward and downward movement, is illustrated and described in United States Patent 2,637,402. Details of the setting tool are unneces= sary to an understanding of the present invention and, for that reason, need not be given in this specification. The setting tool F can produce an upward force or motion on a tension rod 70, which may comprise a plurality of sections 71, 72, 73 threadedly secured to one another and extending within the central passage 11 of the tubular body 10. The lowermost section 73 of the tension rod is threadedly secured to a release stud 74 which, in turn, is threadedly secured to a plate 75 engaging a downwardly facing shoulder 76 of the lower body abutment 51. The release stud has a weakened section 77 of reduced diameter at which it will pull apart when a suflicient and predetermined tensile force is applied thereto through the tension rod 71.

The setting tool F also includes a setting sleeve 78, the lower end of which engages the upper end of the packet thrust sleeve 15. The setting tool will exert a downward force on the setting sleeve 78, shifting it in a downward direction to exert a downward force on a thrust sleeve 15 and urging the latter in a downward direction along the packer body 10.

The well packer A is lowered in the well casing B by means of the setting tool F and the wire line H, or other running-in string, to the desired setting point in the well casing. During such lowering movement, the packer parts occupy the relative positions illustrated in FIGS. 2:: and 2b, the slip sleeves 19, 29 being in their unbroken and retracted positions, and the packing sleeve 44 in-its initial or normally retracted position on the packer body 10.

When the setting location in the well casing is reached,

the setting tool F is actuated, in a manner described in United States Patent 2,637,402, which will exert an upward force on the tension rod 70 and on the body of the well packer, and a downward force on the setting sleeve 78 and thrust sleeve 15. When such upward and downward forces are sufficient to overcome the strength of the shear pins or screws 16 releasably holding the thrust sleeve to the packer body, such pins or screws are disrupted, the thrust sleeve 15 and upper expander 14 moving downwardly on the body 10, and the upper expander moving relatively toward the lower expander 33, to disrupt the upper and lower slip sleeves 19, 29 at their weakened sections 21, 32 and expand the upper and lower slip segments so produced outwardly into anchoring engagement with the wall of the well casing B.

The combination of the upward pull on the body 10 of the tool A, which urges the lower expander 33 upwardly through the lower retaining ring 40, and of the downward force on the upper expander 14, will insure the firm and secure embedding of the wickers or teeth 22, 36 of the upper and lower slips in the wall of the well casing. The upward and downward force, however, cannot effect expansion of the packing structure or sleeve 44 since the lower expander 33 is prevented from moving in either direction along the tubular body 10 by the upper and lower retainer rings 37, 40, and the lower abutment or piston 45 is prevented from moving in either direction along the body by its engagement with the cylinder sleeve 50 and by the shear screws 53. Thus, a substantial force can be exerted on the upper and lower expanders 14, 33 urging them toward one another to insure the firm and secure anchoring of both sets of slip segments 19, 29 against the wall of the well casing B, to anchor the packer body 10 against both upward and downward movement in the well casing. The upper expander 14 is prevented from partaking of any retrograde or upward movement with respect to the body 10 by virtue of engagement of the internal ratchet teeth 25 of the lock ring 24 with the companion external ratchet teeth 26 on the packer body (FIGS. 3a, 3b).

The setting force developed in the setting tool F continues to increase to more firmly secure the slips 19, 29 against the well casing. When the upward force on the tension or release stud 74 increases sufl'iciently to overcome the strength of the stud at its weakened section 72, the latter is disrupted, which will release the setting tool from the well packer A, the lower portion of the broken stud and plate 75 dropping down out of the packer to the bottom of the hole, allowing the wire line H to be elevated to remove the setting tool F, including the tension rod sections 71, 72, 73 and the setting sleeve 78, from the well packer and completely out of the well casing B.

The tubular string C can now be lowered in the well casing, this tubular string including a lower sub 80 to which a tubular mandrel 81 is threadedly secured, this mandrel being adapted to move into the body passage 11 and to be releasably secured to the upper end or threaded box 13 of the body 10. The tubular mandrel has a plurality of side ports 82 which can be placed in communication with the body side ports 54, there being a suitable side seal 83 on the mandrel sealingly engageable with the wall of the body below the ports 54 and an upper side seal 84 on the mandrel sealingly engageable with the body wall above the ports. The mandrel has a lower section 85 threaded thereon in which a ball seat 86 is releasably secured by one or more shear screws or pins 87, leakage of fluid around the exterior of the ball seat 'being prevented by a suitable side seal ring 88. A ball or other valve element 89 is adapted to be dropped down the tubular string C and will pass through the mandrel into engagement with the ball seat 86, closing the passage through the latter and then allowing fluid pressure to be built up in the tubular string and mandrel for outward passage and exertion through the ports 82, 54 upon the liquid in the annular cylinder 55 for the purpose of disrupting the shear screws 53 releasably securing the piston 46 to the cylinder 50 and shifting the piston upwardly along the 'body when expansion of the packing structure or element 44 against the wall of the well casing is desired.

The tubular string C and mandrel 81 can be releasably secured to the packer body 10 by means of a threaded latch device 90. As shown, a latch sleeve 91 is provided having a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinal slots 92 opening through its lower end to provide dogs 93 which have external threads 94 adapted to mesh with the internal box threads 13 in the packer body. The lower sides 95 of the threads are tapered in a downward and inward direction so that upon insertion of the mandrel 81 in the body 10, the threads 94 will engage the box threads 13, which will deflect the threaded dogs 93 inwardly, allowing them to ratchet past the box threads, until fully disposed therewithin. The threaded dogs 93 inherently tend to expand outwardly to bring their external threads in full threaded mesh with the internal threads 13. The threaded engagement can be retained by taking an upward pull on the tubular string C and mandrel 81, causing a lower expander surface 96 on the mandrel to engage companion tapered surfaces 97 on the lower ends of the threaded dogs 93 to hold the latter outwardly in threaded mesh with the box threads 13.

In the event disconnection of the mandrel from the well packer is desired, it is merely necessary to rotate the tubular string and mandrel to the right, such right-hand rotation being transmitted to the threaded dogs 93 through keys 98 secured to the mandrel and disposed in the slots 92 in the threaded sleeve 91. The left-hand threaded dogs can be completely unthreaded from the box 13, allowing the tubular string C and mandrel 81 to be removed from the well packer A and well casing B.

After the tubular string and mandrel have been lowered in the well casing with the mandrel latched in the packer body 10, surface connections (not shown) can be made at the top of the hole to the tubular string and the well casing. Fluid can now be circulated down through the tubular string C and outwardly through the ball seat 86 within the mandrel, the fluid passing upwardly around the exterior of the well packer A and its retracted pack ing 44 to carry the drilling mud and other fluids upwardly through the tubing-casing annulus E to the top of the well bore. The well is fully under control in view of the surface connections at the top of the well bore, and all of the weighted fluid, or other undersirable fluids, in the well casing can be circulated from the well bore without fear of blow-outs and other undesirable events occurring.

After the well bore has been conditioned 'by circulating fluid through the apparatus A and upwardly through the tubing-casing annulus E, the packing structure or element 44 can be expanded against the wall of the well casing and the periphery of the body without disturbing the surface connections, and without moving the tubular string C. The trip ball or other valve element 89 need merely be allowed to gravitate through the fluid in the tubular string, or it can be pumped downwardly through the tubular string, until it engages its ball seat 86 (FIGS. 4a, 4b). Thereafter, pressure can be built up in the fluid in the tubular string and the mandrel, such fluid pressure passing through the ports 82, 54 into the annular cylinder space 55. When the pressure has exceeded the strength of the shear screws 53 retaining the piston to the cylinder, which has less strength than the shear screws 87 securing the ball seat 86 to the mandrel 81, the piston shear screws are disrupted, and the piston 46 is shifted upwardly along the body 10 and cylinder 50 to move the lower abutment 45 toward upper abutment 33, shortening the packing structure 44 and expanding it outwardly into firm sealing engagement with the wall of the well casing B. The piston can move upwardly along the body since the split lock 7 ring 65 will merely ratchet freely past the ratchet teeth 43 of the body. However, return movement of the piston along the body cannot occur since the cam teeth 67, 68 will urge and hold the lock sleeve 65 inwardly with its ratchet teeth 66 in full mesh with the body ratchet teeth Suflicient fluid pressure is imposed to insure the firm sealing of the packing structure 44 against the wall of the well casing B, as well as its inward sealing against the periphery of the body 10, to prevent leakage of fluid around the exterior of the body. The pressure can then be increased to a further extent to disrupt the shear screws 87 initially securing the ball seat 86 in the mandrel, the ball and ball seat then being blown out from the bottom of the mandrel and dropping down to the bottom of the well bore (FIGS. a, 5b).

The well packer A has now been anchored in packedofi condition in the well casing. If desired, and without anynecessity for effecting any disconnections at the top of the well bore, the well production can be allowed to flow upwardly through the mandrel 81 and the tubular string C to the top of the well bore.

I claim:

1. In a well packer adapted to be lowered in a well conduit disposed in a well bore: a body having a passage; initially retracted slip means disposed about said body; expander means fixed to said body and engageable with said slip means to expand said slip means against the well conduit upon longitudinal movement of said body and expander means relative to said slip means; initially retracted packing means on said body; means for longitudinally moving said body and expander means relative to said slip means to expandsaid slip means and firmly and securely anchor said slip means against the well conduit without expanding said packing means; means for preventing such longitudinal movement and the force associated therewith incident to anchoring of said slip means against the well conduit from being transmitted through said retracted packing means, whereby said packing means remains retracted; and hydraulically operable means on said body responsive to fluid pressure in said body assage for expanding said packing means against the well conduit after expansion and anchoring of said slip means against the well conduit.

2. In a well packer adapted to be lowered in a well conduit disposed in a well bore: a body having a passage; initially retracted slip means disposed about said body; expander means fixed to said body and engageable with said slip means to expand said slip means against the well conduit upon longitudinal movement of said body and expander means relative to said slip means; initially retracted packing means on said body having an end portion engaging said expander means; and hydraulically operable means on said body engaging the other end portion of said packing means and movable toward said expander means in response to fluid pressure in said body passage to expand said packing means against the well conduit after expansion of said slip means against the well conduit.

3. In a well packer adapted to be lowered in a well conduit disposed in a well bore: a body having a passage; upper and lower expander means on said body; initially retracted slip means disposed about said body between said upper and lower expander means; initially retracted packing means on said body; means for relatively shifting said upper and lower expander means toward each other to expand said slip means and firmly and securely anchor said slip means against the well conduit without expanding said packing means; means for preventing such relative shifting and the force associated therewith incident to anchoring of said slip means against the well "conduit from being transmitted through said retracted packing means, whereby said packing means remains retracted; and hydraulically operable means on said body responsive to fluid pressure in said body passage for expanding said packing means against the well conduit after expansion and anchoring of said slip means against the well conduit. H

4. In a well packer adapted to be lowered in a well conduit disposed in a well bore: a body having a passage; upper and lower expander means on said body; initially retracted slip means disposed about said body between said upper and lower expander means; initially retracted packing means on said body having an end portion engaging one of said expander means; means for relatively shifting said upper and lower expander means toward each other to expand said slip means and firmly and securely anchor said slip means against the well conduit; without expanding said packing means; means for preventing such relative shifting and the force associated therewith incident to anchoring of said slip means against the Well conduit from being transmitted through said retracted packing means, whereby said packing means remains retracted; and hydraulically operable means on said body engaging the other end portion of said packing means and movable toward said one of said expander means in response to fluid pressure in said body pass-age to expand said packing means against the well conduit after expansion and anchoring of said slip means against the well conduit. 7 V

5. In a well packer adapted to be lowered in a well conduit disposed in a well bore: a body having a passage; upper and lower expander means on said body; initially retracted slip means disposed about said body between said upper and lower expander means; initially retracted packing means on said body having an end portion engaging one of said expander means; means for relatively shifting said upper and lower expander means toward each other to expand said slip means and firmly and securely anchor said slip means against the well conduit without expanding said packing means; means for preventing such relative shifting and the force associated therewith incident to anchoring of said slip means against the well conduit from being transmitted through said retracted packing means, whereby said packing means remains retracted; hydraulically operable means on said body engaging the other end portion of said packing means and movable toward said one of said expander means in response to fluid pressure in said body passage to expand said packing means against the well conduit after expansion and anchoring of said slip means against the well conduit; and lock means acting between said body and hydraulically operable means for reventing movement of said hydraulically operable means away from said one of said expander means to retain said packing means in its expanded condition.

6. In a well packer adapted to be lowered in a well conduit disposed in a well bore: a body having a passage; initially retracted slip means disposed about said body; expander means fixed to said body and engageable with said slip means to expand said slip means against the well conduit upon longitudinal movement of said body and expander means relative to said slip means; initially retracted packing means on said body having an end portion engaging said expander means; hydraulically operable means on said body engaging the other end portion of said packing means and movable toward said expander means in response to fluid pressure insaid body passage to expand said packing means against the well conduit after expansion of said slip means against the well conduit; and lock means acting between said body and hydraulically operable means for preventing movement of said hydraulically operable means away from saidexpander means to retain said packing means in its expanded condition.

7. -In a well packer adapted to be lowered in a well conduit disposed in a well bore: a body having a passage; an upper expander slidable downwardly on said body; a

lower expander fixed to said body; initially retracted slip means disposed about said body between said expanders; thrust means movable relatively downwardly of said body for shifting said upper expander relatively downwardly toward said lower expander to expand said slip means against the well conduit; initially retracted packing means on said body having an upper end portion engaging said lower expander; and hydraulically operable means on said body engaging the lower end portion of said packing means and movable toward said lower expander in response to fluid pressure in said body passage to expand said packing means against the well conduit.

8. In a well packer adapted to be lowered in a well conduit disposed in a well bore: a body having a passage; an upper expander slidable downwardly on said body; a lower expander fixed to said body; initially retracted slip means disposed about said body between said expanders; thrust means movable relatively downwardly of said body for shifting said upper expander relatively downwardly toward said lower expander to expand said slip means against the well conduit; initially retracted packing means on said body having an upper end portion engaging said lower expander; hydraulically operable means on said body engaging the lower end portion of said packing means and movable toward said lower expander in response to fluid pressure in said body passage to expand said packing means against the well conduit; lock means acting between said body and upper expander for preventing longitudinal movement of said upper expander away from said lower expander to retain said slip means against the well conduit; and lock means acting between said body and hydraulically operable means for preventing longitudinal movement of said hydraulically operable means away from said lower expander to retain said packing means in its expanded condition.

9. In a well packer adapted to be lowered in a well conduit disposed in a well bore: a body having a passage; an upper expander slidable downwardly on said body; a lower expander fixed to said body; initially retracted slip means disposed about said body between said expanders; thrust means movable relatively downwardly of said body for shifting said upper expander relatively downwardly toward said lower expander to expand said slip means against the well conduit; initially retracted packing means on said body having an upper end portion engaging said lower expander; an annular cylinder secured to said body below said packing means; an annular piston in said cylinder engaging the lower end portion of said packing means; said body having a port for conducting fluid under pressure from said body pass-age to said cylinder to shift said piston upwardly toward said lower expander to expand said packing means against the well conduit.

10. In a well packer adapted to be lowered in a well conduit disposed in a well bore: a body having a passage; an upper expander slidable downwardly on said body; a lower expander fixed to said body; initially retracted slip means disposed about said body between said expanders; thrust means movable relatively downwardly of said body for shifting said upper expander relatively downwardly toward said lower expander to expand said slip means against the well conduit; initially retracted packing means on said body having an upper end portion engaging said lower expander; an annular cylinder secured to said body below said packing means; an annular piston in said cylinder engaging the lower end portion of said packing means; said body having a port for conducting fluid under pressure from said body passage to said cylinder to shift said piston upwardly toward said lower expander to expand said packing means against the well conduit; lock means acting between said body and upper expander for preventing longitudinal movement of said upper expander away from said lower expander to retain said slip means against the well conduit; and lock means acting between said body and piston for preventing longitudinal movement of said piston away from said lower expander to retain said packing means in its expanded condition.

11. In a well packer adapted to be lowered in a well conduit disposed in a well bore: a body having a passage; initially retracted slip means disposed about said body; expander means fixed to said body and engageable with said slip means to expand said slip means against the well conduit upon longitudinal movement of said body and expander means relative to said slip means; initially retracted packing means on said body; means for longitudinally moving said body and expander means relative to said slip means to expand said slip means and firmly and securely anchor said slip means against the Well conduit without expanding said packing means; means for preventing such longitudinal movement and the force associated therewith incident to anchoring of said slip means against the well conduit from being transmitted through said retracted packing means, whereby said packing means remains retracted; means engaging an end portion of said packing means for preventing such end portion from moving longitudinally of said body; and hydraulically operable means on said body engaging the other end portion of said packing means and movable toward said first end portion in response to fluid pressure in said body passage for expanding said packing means against the well conduit after expansion and anchoring of said slip means against the well conduit.

12. In a well packer adapted to be lowered in a well conduit disposed in a well bore: a body having a passage; upper and lower expander means on said body; initially retracted slip means disposed about said body between said upper and lower expander means; means for relatively shifting said upper and lower expander means toward each other to expand said slip means against the well conduit; initially retracted packing means on said body; means fixed to said body and engaging an end portion of said packing means; and hydraulically operable means on said body engaging the other end portion of a said packing means and movable toward said engaging means in response to fluid pressure in said body passage to' expand said packing means against the well conduit (aifter expansion of said slip means against the well eon- Int.

13. In a well packer adapted to be lowered in a well conduit disposed in a well bore: a body having a passage; an upper expander slidable downwardly on said body; a lower expander fixed to said body; initially retracted slip means disposed about said body between said expanders; thrust means movable relatively downwardly of said body for shifting said upper expander relatively downwardly toward said lower expander to expand said slip means against the well conduit; initially retracted packing means on said body; means secured to said body and engaging an upper end portion of said packing means; and hydraulically operable means on said body engaging the lower end portion of said packing means and movable upwardly along said body in response to fluid pressure in said body passage to expand said packing means against the well conduit.

14. In a well packer adapted to be lowered in a well conduit disposed in a well bore: a body having a passage; an upper expander slidable downwardly on said body; a lower expander fixed to said body; initially retracted slip means disposed about said body between said expanders; thrust means movable relatively downwardly of said body for shifting said upper expander relatively downwardly toward said lower expander to expand said slip means against the well conduit; initially retracted packing means on said body; means secured to said body and engaging an upper end portion of said packing means; an annular cylinder secured to said body below said packing means; an annular piston in said cylinder engaging the lower end portion of said packing means; said body having a port for conducting fluid under pressure from said body pas- 1 11 sage to said cylinder to shift said piston upwardly along said body to expand said packing means against the well conduit.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12 Clark 166-422 Baker 166120 Muse et a1. 166-123 Brown et a1. 166-122 CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Primary Examiner.

DAVID H. BROWN, Examiner. 

2. IN A WELL PACKER ADAPTED TO BE LOWERED IN A WELL CONDUIT DISPOSED IN A WELL BORE: A BODY HAVING A PASSAGE; INITIALLY RETRACTED SLIP MEANS DISPOSED ABOUT SAID BODY; EXPANDER MEANS FIXED TO SAID BODY AND ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID SLIP MEANS TO EXPAND SAID SLIP MEANS AGAINST THE WELL CONDUIT UPON LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT OF SAID BODY AND EXPANDER MEANS RELATIVE TO SAID SLIP MEANS; INITIALLY RETRACTED PACKING MEANS ON SAID BODY HAVING AN END PORTION ENGAGING SAID EXPANDER MEANS; AND HYDRAULICALLY OPERABLE MEANS ON SAID BODY ENGAGING THE OTHER END PORTION OF SAID PACKING MEANS AND MOVABLE TOWARD SAID EXPANDER MEANS IN RESPONSE TO FLUID PRESSURE IN SAID BODY PASSAGE TO EXPAND SAID PACKING MEANS AGAINST THE WELL CONDUIT AFTER EXPANSION OF SAID SLIP MEANS AGAINST THE WELL CONDUIT. 